MBOMBELA – On Thursday staff of Rob Ferreira Hospital who were members of the National Education, Health and Allied Workers’ Union (Nehawu) protested outside the hospital to express their dissatisfaction with issues related to protective clothing, salaries and compensation for overtime worked.
When Lowvelder arrived at the hospital, the newspaper was confronted with a crowd of union members comprising general workers and nursing staff in the passage in front of management’s offices, shouting and toyi-toyiing. The crowd of about 30 people then proceeded down the hospital stairs, singing and dancing as more members joined them.
The group grew to about 60 people. They then gathered at the access gate of the hospital. Patients and bystanders watched the spectacle unfold.
Health spokesman Mr Dumisani Malamule said MEC Mr Gillion Mashego met Nehawu management at the hospital. He said they came to an agreement to form a task team to deal with these matters. An informed source stated that the cleaners wanted new uniforms, but due to cost curtailments, new ones had not been ordered last year.
The source stated that the money for the uniforms was only available now. “Finance officials knew this, but were still instigating emotions against top management. The provincial offices never take any steps against illegal union activities. They are allowed to wreak havoc at their own pleasure.”
It claimed that the provincial health’s HR department and the subdivision of labour relations were being mismanaged and was a huge part in the failure of the department. Nehawu spokesman Mr Sizwe Motha was unavailable for comment at the time of going to print.
